Sydney has set a brand new weather record after temperatures soared above 30 degrees for four consecutive days in March – the first time such an event has occurred in 165 years.
The Bureau of Meteorology forecasts Sydney will reach a top of 30 degrees on Sunday, while Penrith will swelter in 40 degrees heat.
Richmond and Blacktown are also forecast to reach 39C.
This is being caused by a low intensity heatwave spreading across the region that also includes some parts of southeast Queensland.
Bureau of Meteorology senior meteorologist Felim Hannify told NCA NewsWire the last time Sydney recorded those high temperatures in March was in 1878.
At that time, temperatures above 30 degrees were recorded for three consecutive days.
“It’s a record never seen previously,” Mr Hannify said.
“A lot of people were nervous about the outlook changing to El Nino later in the year but we’re already seeing an imprint of those temperatures.”
The Observatory Hill station near the southern end of the Sydney Harbour Bridge has recorded March’s average is 2C above the previous record of 27.1 degrees from 2006.
The Bureau forecasts there will be isolated gusty thunderstorms with little or no rainfall possible about the Southern Ranges and slopes in New South Wales.
It warns these conditions may exacerbate already elevated fire dangers due to ongoing hot, dry conditions in the region.
But Sky News Australia meteorologist Rob Sharpe said New South Wales residents can soon expect a cooler change in temperatures.
“Wet weather is going to pick up again,” he said.
“A cool change is crossing Victoria, Tasmania and up the New South Wales coastline, it reaches Sydney on Sunday evening.
“By Monday it’s notably cooler for the New South Wales coast.
“We’re not going to see this type of heat again until we get to at least springtime.”
Mr Sharpe said while central and western parts of the state will continue to see high temperatures, rain is forecast for the coming week.
“We’re going to continue to see showers on an almost daily basis out through the east right through much of next week, so get ready for the wet weather,” he said.
“Despite the fact La Nina is done doesn’t mean the end of the wet weather just yet.”
Mr Hannify said the system that saw temperatures reach 43 in some parts of the interior west on Saturday will continue to move towards the coast.
“Temperatures rose again today we had that weather system coming over the southern part of New South Wales,” he said.
“It’s dragging that heat further east today, that’s why you’re getting near 40s in the western suburbs because it’s dragged closer to the coast today.”
Meanwhile, Melbourne is forecast to reach a top of 21 degrees on Sunday, which is about three degrees cooler than the March average.
Brisbane is forecast to reach a top of 32 degrees on Sunday.
